Skip to main content
Category

News

Slovenia’s Order of Merit awarded to John Corsellis

By First page, News


John Corsellis, who died last November, has been posthumously awarded the Order of Merit of the Republic of Slovenia in London.

The award was made for his work as a humanitarian aid worker caring for several thousand Slovene refugees in Displaced Persons camps in Austria in the years after World War II.

Tadej Rupel, Slovenia’s Ambassador to the United KIngdom, presented the award to John’s widow, Ann Corsellis, in a ceremony at the Slovenian Embassy on 4th February also attended by John’s three children, a grandson and family friends.

John was co-author of a book entitled Slovenia 1945 published in 2005.

Modern style Slovene folk songs for Prešeren Evening – and a Carniolan Bee

By Events, First page, News

Two up-and-coming young musicians from Slovenia, Gregor Volk and Goran Krmač, enlivened the British-Slovene Society’s 2019 Prešeren Evening on 9th February. And for the first time the Carniolan Bee put in a guest appearance.

In an evening hosted by Shirlie Roden, who herself sang her ever popular Zeleni Zmaj, the two artists from Slovenia enchanted the 87 participants with their original takes on Slovene folk-songs.


The medieval town of Višnja Gora in Slovenia is celebrating its local Carniolan Bee, which is hard-working, not aggressive and has become a favourite among beekeepers around the world. Each table had a paper-cut-out Carniolan Bee to stick together during the meal. It was not easy.

In the end the musicians judged which was the best, and the prize of a pot of Carniolan bee honey went to Zala Sekne (right), an undergraduate student at Oxford University. Here she is with the contestants, including Slovenian Ambassador Tadej Rupel, who kindly donated Slovenian wine for the evening. Alas, his bee did not quite make the grade.


The well-known Slovene story, A Goat Trial, by Josip Jurčič, has been translated into English by Evelina and Marcus Ferrar and was among the prizes in the tombola, which raised £456 for Barka, the Slovene charity for people with special needs. Main prize was a tumble dryer donated by Gorenje.

The Government Office for Slovenes Abroad kindly gave financial support to the Evening.

Book for the BSS Prešeren Evening on 9th February

By First page, News

BOOK NOW FOR THE BRITISH-SLOVENE SOCIETY’S PREŠEREN EVENING

WITH GREGOR VOLK AND GORAN KRMAČ

–         Saturday 9th February 2019. Drinks from 6.30 pm, dinner at 7.20 pm.

–        Ambassadors Bloomsbury Hotel, 12 Upper Woburn Place, London WC1H 0HX (undergrounds Euston, Euston Square, King’s Cross, Russell Square)

Singer Gregor Volk and tuba player Goran Krmač, two of Slovenia’s up-and-coming young entertainers, will perform for us after dinner.

We are keeping rates at the same as last year:

–         Members £45, non-members £60, students and under-18s  £29.

For that you will enjoy a drinks reception, a three-course dinner with wine, the concert and a tombola with all sorts of attractive prizes.

Proceeds of tombola will, as always, go to Barka, the Slovenian charity we support.

–         Reserve your places now using the Application Form below. Space is limited, so it’s first come, first serve.

You should assume that paid-for places have been reserved unless you hear to the contrary. No tickets will be issued.

If you wish to make up your own party, please nominate a host who will book the table in his/her name. Please advise if you have any dietary requirements.

We are grateful to the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in London for donating Slovenian wine for the occasion and to the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for granting the British-Slovene Society a subsidy.

2019 2 9 Preseren Evening application form

 

 

British-Slovene Christmas Carol Service – 7th December 2018

By First page, News

The British-Slovene Society once again filled the charming Wren church of St. Andrew-in-the-Wardrobe in London for the annual service of carols and readings in both languages. Organist Aljoša travelled from Leeds to play for us, and two sopranos and a contralto sang as a choir to support the congregation.

 

Afterwards the congregation stayed for more than an hour to talk and consume large quantities of fresh potica just flown in from Slovenia by five BSS members. The Slovenian Embassy contributed wine. The event also benefited from financial support by the Slovenian Government.  

After the service, we collected £410 for Barka, the charity we support in Slovenia.

Slovenian Ambassador Tadej Rupel (left) with BSS Trustee Marcus Ferrar.

Next year come again: it’s been pencilled in for Friday 6th December.   

 

John Corsellis, Carer of Post-War Refugees – 14.01.1923–18.11.2018

By First page, News

John Corsellis, who cared for Slovenes fleeing their country in 1945 and chronicled their Odyssey around the world, has died at the age of 95 in his home city of Cambridge.

As a young humanitarian aid worker, John helped look after several thousand Slovene refugees in Displaced Persons camps in Austria until they were able to emigrate to Argentina, the United States, Canada and Britain.

He developed a strong affection for the refugees, whom he helped run schools and other camp activities with the most meagre of means. While the Slovenes were bitter that the British Army sent back 13,000 Slovene Home Guards to be killed by the Communists, they warmly appreciated John for his support and friendship in their time of need.

Together with co-author Marcus Ferrar, John published a book entitled “Slovenia 1945: Memories of Death and Survival after World War II” in the U.K. in 2005. The Slovene edition published by Mladinska Knjiga became a best-seller in Slovenia.

John was a Quaker, and when asked by Slovene television interviewer how this affected his beliefs, he replied simply: “The Bible says ‘Thou shalt not kill’ and the Bible means ‘Thou shalt not kill’.”

A Quaker meeting will be held to give thanks for John’s life on Tuesday 4 December at 2.30 pm at the Friends Meeting House, 12 Jesus Lane, Cambridge CB5 8BA.

Here is a link to the interview John Corsellis and Marcus Ferrar gave to Sandi Čolnik of RTV Slovenia in 2006: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ryONG4poEo

 

 

 

Reserve the date for Prešeren Evening – 9th February 2019!

By First page, News

We are looking forward to getting together again at our next Prešeren Evening.  It will take place on Saturday 9th February 2019 at the Ambassadors Bloomsbury Hotel (the same place as this year). Put the date in your diary!

PS: Don’t forget the British-Slovene Carol Service on 7th December at St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe, Queen Victoria Street and St. Andrew’s Hill, City of London, EC4V 5DE. 

 

 

 

Christmas Carol Service on Friday 7th December in London

By First page, News

The BSS warmly invites you to our annual Carol Service on Friday 7th December 2018, at 6:30 pm.

This is our regular festive get together which is held in the beautiful church of St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe, Queen Victoria Street and St. Andrew’s Hill, City of London, EC4V 5DE.

The church, which was built by Sir Christopher Wren is a wonderful historic building and well worth a visit in its own right. Please come and join in our carol singing in English and Slovene.

Catch up with friends after the service as there will be potica (offered by the Society) and Christmas drinks (courtesy of the Embassy).

There is no charge but a collection is taken to support the work of the Barka charity in Slovenia.

Nearest underground Blackfriars. St Paul’s and Mansion House nearby.

 

Join a Slovene “Singing Supper” in London on Saturday 6 October

By Events, First page, News

The “Lakeland Voices from Cumbria” choir, which specialises in folk songs from Slovenia, invites you to join them for a Slovene-themed “Singing Supper” at the Number Twelve Restaurant at 12 Upper Woburn Place, London WC1H 0HX this Saturday 6th October at 7.30 pm. There will be well known songs in both Slovene and English which everyone can join in. 

All members and friends of the British-Slovene Society are welcome.

The Number Twelve Restaurant is offering a set menu. For more information, contact davidburbidge@hotmail.com.

Lakeland Voices from Cumbria on a tour in Slovenia in May 2018

 

Evening Courses of Slovene at the School of Slavonic & East European Studies UCL

By First page, News

From October 2018 SSEES UCL will again run evening courses of Slovene language at all levels.
 
Beginners (Tuesdays)
Lower Intermediate (Mondays)
Upper Intermediate (Thursdays)
Advanced (Wednesdays)
Advanced Plus (Thursdays)
 
All courses are scheduled to run 6:30-8:30pm.
 
More information about the Slovene courses is HERE

If you are interested please enrol by 30 September HERE

For more information contact Maja Rančigaj Beneš, Slovene language teacher: m.rancigaj@ucl.ac.uk

These small interactive courses develop conversation skills without losing sight of the fundamentals of grammar. They are ideal for anyone interested in the rich culture and unique language of Slovenia. 

Dora Lavrenčič has passed away

By First page, News

With great sadness, we have heard news that Dora Lavrenčič, widow of Karl Lavrenčič, passed away on 10th July at the age of 94. Dora was a broadcaster with the BBC’s Slovene section.

Née Dora Žebot, she was the daughter of a prominent pre-war figure Franjo Žebot who, as acting Mayor of Maribor, refused to raise the Nazi flag on the town hall at the time of the 1941 invasion. He was subsequently the first Slovene to be transported to Dachau concentration camp, where he died.

Dora’s funeral arrangements are as follows:

Funeral Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Cobham, Surrey at 11am on Friday 20th July. There will be a reception immediately afterwards in the parish centre next to the church. 

The British-Slovene Society sends heartfelt condolences to Dora’s family, Alenka and John.